Overheating protection device for electronic cigarette and smoke cartridge

ABSTRACT

An overheating protection device for an electronic cigarette includes a battery for powering the electronic cigarette, an atomizer for vaporizing a tobacco flavored liquid by heating, and a control circuit module for controlling the atomizer to work. The battery, the control circuit module, and the atomizer are electrically connected one by one to define a heating circuit. The overheating protection device further includes a thermal fuse connected in series in the heating circuit. When environment temperature is overheat, the thermal fuse automatically blows to cut off the heating circuit, and the battery stops powering the atomizer. The overheating protection device is safe for smoker and the electronic cigarette.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This non-provisional application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) on Patent Application No. 201320128663.2 filed in P.R. China on Mar. 20, 2013, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to an electronic cigarette, and particularly, to an overheating protection device for electronic cigarette and smoke cartridge.

2. Description of Related Art

The existing electronic cigarette products, especially disposable electronic cigarettes and disposable smoke cartridges, are not provided with overheating protection. The electronic cigarette includes a heating circuit cooperatively formed by a battery, a control circuit module and an atomizer. When the electronic cigarette breaks down, such as a microcontroller crashed or a wire short circuit, the battery may be run out or the electronic cigarette may be burned out due to sustained heating of the atomizer. In addition, the electronic cigarette may cause a scald, burns or even a fire because of a high temperature therein.

Therefore, there is room for improvement within the art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide an overheating protection device for electronic cigarette and smoke cartridge, thereby preventing the smoker from scalding or burning caused by a high temperature in the electronic cigarette.

The invention relates to an overheating protection device for electronic cigarette and smoke cartridge, characterized in that the overheating device for an electronic cigarette includes:

a battery for powering the electronic cigarette;

an atomizer for vaporizing a tobacco flavored liquid by heating;

a control circuit module for controlling the atomizer to work;

the battery, the control circuit module, and the atomizer are electrically connected one by one to define a heating circuit, wherein the overheating protection device further comprises a thermal fuse connected in series in the heating circuit; and when environment temperature is overheat, the thermal fuse automatically blows to cut off the heating circuit, and the battery stops powering the atomizer.

It is another aspect of this invention, the thermal fuse is connected in series between an anode of the battery and a positive power end of the control circuit module.

It is another aspect of this invention, the thermal fuse is connected in series between a cathode of the battery and a negative power end of the control circuit module.

It is preferable for the thermal fuse is shaped as a tube or a square shell.

It is preferable for the thermal fuse can be chosen with any of the thermal fuse that the range of the blown temperature is between 50° C. to 200° C.

An overheating protection device for a smoke cartridge includes:

an interface of atomizer for connecting with a controlling circuit of an electronic cigarette;

an atomizer for vaporizing a tobacco flavored liquid by heating;

a thermal fuse for preventing the atomizer from continuously heating when the atomizer is overheat, and a first end of the interface of atomizer is connected to a first end of the atomizer through the thermal fuse, and a second end of the interface is connected to a second end of the atomizer.

It is preferable for the thermal fuse is shaped as a tube or a square shell.

It is preferable for the thermal fuse can be chosen with any of the thermal fuse that the range of the blown temperature is between 50° C. to 200° C. By adopting the overheating protection device for the electronic cigarette or smoke cartridge, because of the thermal fuse connected to the heating circuit by way of series, the thermal fuse can blow when the temperature exceeds the blown temperature, thereby power supply of the battery can be shut off. In this way, the smoker can avoid scalding or burning caused by continuously heating of the atomizer, thereby improving the security of the electronic cigarette.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an overheating protection device for an electronic cigarette of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic circuit diagram of a first embodiment of the overheating protection device for the electronic cigarette of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a schematic circuit diagram of a second embodiment of the overheating protection device for the electronic cigarette of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a schematic circuit structure diagram of a control circuit module of the overheating protection device for the electronic cigarette of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a schematic circuit diagram of an overheating protection device for a smoke cartridge.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1, an overheating protection device for an electronic cigarette of the prevention includes a battery 100 configured for powering various components of the electronic cigarette to work, a thermal fuse 200 configured for automatically fusing to disconnect supply circuit when temperature is detected too high, a control circuit module 300, and an atomizer 400. The control circuit module 300 is configured to control the atomizer 400, and the atomizer 400 is configured to vaporize a tobacco flavored liquid by heating In an optimized connection, the thermal fuse 200 is connected in series between the battery 100 and the control circuit module 300, and thereby the battery 100, the thermal fuse 200, the control circuit module 300 and the atomizer 400 are electrically connected one by one to define an overheating protection circuit. The thermal fuse 200 can be connected in series in various position of the overheating protection circuit, so long as power can be cut off when overheating, such as the thermal fuse 200 can be positioned to adjoin the atomizer 400.

In use, the battery 100 outputs currents, which power the atomizer 400 controlled by the control circuit module 300 according to preset parameters after passing through the thermal fuse 200, thereby, the atomizer 400 vaporizes the tobacco flavored liquid into vapor by converting electrical energy to the form of heat.

When a circuit of a conventional electronic cigarette breaks down, the atomizer 400 may be not stop working until the battery 100 run out or the conventional electronic cigarette burned out, meanwhile, the conventional electronic cigarette may cause a scald, burns or even a fire because of a high temperature therein. While in the present invention, above damage can be avoided by connecting the thermal fuse 200. In the illustrated embodiment, the thermal fuse 200 is mainly made of low temperature alloy, such that when temperature exceeds a specified limit, for example 50° C., the battery 100 stops powering the atomizer 400 by the blown thermal fuse 200 to avoid the atomizer 400 continuously heating. In the illustrated embodiment, the thermal fuse 200 may have various blown temperature according to various position thereof, such as blown temperature of the thermal fuse 200 is 50° C. when the thermal fuse 200 is positioned away from the atomizer 400, and the blown temperature is 200° C. when the thermal fuse 200 is positioned close to the atomizer 400. The thermal fuse 200 may be various shape according to an inner space requirement of the electronic cigarette, for example, the thermal fuse 200 may be shaped as a tube or a square shell, so long as the thermal fuse 200 can blow normally. The thermal fuse can be chosen with any of the thermal fuse that the range of the blown temperature is between 50° C. to 200° C., for example the blown temperature of H0 thermal fuse of Xiamen SET Electronics Company is 73±2° C.

FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 show two connection methods of two embodiments of the overheating protection device for the electronic cigarette according to the invention. An anode and a cathode of the battery 100 are corresponding connected to the positive power end and the negative power end of the control circuit module 300. The thermal fuse 200 is connected in series between the anode of the battery 100 and the positive power end of the control circuit module 300, or the thermal fuse 200 is connected in series between the cathode of the battery 100 and the negative power end of the control circuit module 300. One end of the atomizer 400 is connected with the control output end of the control circuit module 300, and the other end of the atomizer 400 is connected with the cathode of the battery 100.

The battery 100, the thermal fuse 200, the control circuit module 300 and the atomizer 400 cooperatively define an overheating protection circuit. When a temperature of the atomizer 400 exceeds the blown temperature, the overheating protection circuit is disconnected by the blown thermal fuse 200, and the battery 100 stops powering the atomizer 400 to avoid the atomizer 400 continuously heating.

Generally, the control circuit module 300 includes at least the positive power end, the negative power end, and the control output end. The positive power end and the negative power end are electric connected to the battery 100 for powering the control circuit module 300. The control output end is configured for conducting others components of the electronic cigarette to work, such as the atomizer 400.

Referring to FIG. 4, shown an optional Specific circuit connection diagram of the control circuit module 300 of the electronic cigarette, the control circuit module 300 includes an input module, a microcontroller, a field effect transistor (MOSFET), a reference voltage, and a comparator. The input module includes an inhalation sensor and a button, which is configured for sending starting or stopping signals to the microcontroller. The microcontroller controls the field effect transistor to be turned on or off according to the receiving starting or stopping signals, and controls the currents flowing to the atomizer 400. The comparator is configured for over-current protection of the atomizer 400. The comparator compares the reference voltage with an operating voltage of the field effect transistor, the operating voltage generated by an operating current following through the internal resistance of the field effect transistor, and detects if the atomizer 400 is experiencing an over-current situation. When the atomizer 400 is experiencing an over-current situation, the excess operating current from atomizer 400 follows through the field effect transistor and generates a higher operating voltage, the comparator receives the operating voltage signal, after comparing with the reference voltage signal, and outputs a control signal to the microcontroller, such that the microcontroller can shut off the current flowing to the atomizer 400 by cutting off the field effect transistor. When the atomizer 400 is experiencing an over-current situation, if the comparator, the microcontroller or the field effect transistor fails to shut off the current flowing to the atomizer 400, temperature of the electronic cigarette rises because of continuously heating of the atomizer 400, thereby the thermal fuse 200 can blow and voltage of the battery 100 can be shut off, and it is thus safe for smoker and the electronic cigarette.

Referring to FIG. 5, an overheating protection device for a smoke cartridge (not labeled) of the prevention includes an atomizer interface configured for connecting with a controlling circuit of an electronic cigarette, an atomizer 400 configured for vaporizing a tobacco flavored liquid, and a thermal fuse 200 configured for preventing the atomizer 400 from continuously heating when the atomizer 400 is overheat. A first end of the interface is connected to a first end of the atomizer 400 through the thermal fuse 200, and a second end of the interface is connected to a second end of the atomizer 400.

In use, currents of the electronic cigarette flow to the smoke cartridge by the interface, and the atomizer 400 vaporizes the tobacco flavored liquid into vapor by converting electrical energy to the form of heat. If currents of the electronic cigarette are abnormal, the thermal fuse 200 can blow because of a high temperature generated by continuously heating of the atomizer 400, thereby the smoke cartridge and the electronic cigarette can be protected. The thermal fuse can be chosen with any of the thermal fuse that the range of the blown temperature is between 50° C. to 200° C. The thermal fuse 200 may be various shape according to a shape of the smoke cartridge.

It should be emphasized that the above-described embodiments of the present invention, particularly, any preferred embodiments, are merely possible examples of implementations, merely set forth for a clear understanding of the principles of the invention. Many variations and modifications may be made to the above-described embodiment(s) of the invention without departing substantially from the spirit and principles of the invention. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of this disclosure and the present invention and protected by the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An overheating protection device for an electronic cigarette, comprising: a battery for powering the electronic cigarette; an atomizer for vaporizing a tobacco flavored liquid by heating; a control circuit module for controlling the atomizer to work; the battery, the control circuit module, and the atomizer are electrically connected one by one to define a heating circuit, wherein the overheating protection device further comprises a thermal fuse connected in series in the heating circuit; when environment temperature is overheat, the thermal fuse automatically blows to cut off the heating circuit, and the battery stops powering the atomizer.
 2. The overheating protection device of claim 1, wherein the thermal fuse is connected in series between an anode of the battery and a positive power end of the control circuit module.
 3. The overheating protection device of claim 1, wherein the thermal fuse is connected in series between a cathode of the battery and a negative power end of the control circuit module.
 4. The overheating protection device of claim 1, wherein the thermal fuse is shaped as a tube or a square shell.
 5. The overheating protection device of claim 2, wherein the thermal fuse is shaped as a tube or a square shell.
 6. The overheating protection device of claim 3, wherein the thermal fuse is shaped as a tube or a square shell.
 7. The overheating protection device of claim 1, wherein the thermal fuse can be chosen with any of the thermal fuse that the range of the blown temperature is between 50° C. to 200° C.
 8. An overheating protection device for a smoke cartridge, comprising: an atomizer interface for connecting with a controlling circuit of an electronic cigarette; an atomizer for vaporizing a tobacco flavored liquid by heating; a thermal fuse for preventing the atomizer from continuously heating when the atomizer is overheat, and a first end of the atomizer interface is connected to a first end of the atomizer by the thermal fuse, and a second end of the atomizer interface is connected to a second end of the atomizer.
 9. The overheating protection device of claim 8, wherein the thermal fuse is shaped as a tube or a square shell.
 10. The overheating protection device of claim 9, wherein the thermal fuse can be chosen with any of the thermal fuse that the range of the blown temperature is between 50° C. to 200° C. 